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Celebrated Struggle

Dark issues become a source of entertainment to open up societal discussion

Implications - Life struggles have transitioned from being private to something spoken about openly, which has augmented what would've once been morbid or uncouth to discuss, to being celebrated. This collective shift denotes a need for transparency, but also that the consumer mindset has evolved to require the whole story for a viable connection to be forged.
Trend Themes
1. Emotional Transparency - The need for transparency surrounding once taboo topics has become normalized, leading to a generation of creators producing content that touches on dark and personal themes.
2. Realistic and Gritty Art - Artists are creating realistic and gritty illustrations depicting death and the macabre in ways that combine artistry with shock value, engaging audiences.
3. Celebrating Life and Death - Photographers and artists are finding ways to celebrate life and death by paying tribute to dead and dying creatures, using their art to immortalize their existence.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Design - The art and design space has shifted to include and celebrate darker realities, opening the door for works that blend beautiful aesthetics with morbid themes.
2. Media and Entertainment - As people become more comfortable with talking about once taboo topics, media and entertainment professionals have shifted their focus to visually and emotionally engaging content that touches on these realities.
3. Wellness and Psychology - With emotional transparency becoming more normalized, there is a major opportunity for the wellness and psychology industries to reflect this in their programming and messaging by featuring elements of healing and catharsis.
3.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
6 Featured, 54 Examples:
623,092 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Jul 13 — May 14
Trending:
Warm
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

AIDS-Revealing Portraits
AIDS-Revealing Portraits
Adrain Chesser Captures Loved Ones' Reactions to His Tragic News
After testing positive for HIV and diagnosed with AIDS, Seattle-based photographer Adrain Chesser knew he had to tell his loved ones at some point, but he writes, ” I had an extreme physical... MORE
Poignant Dead Animal Photography
Poignant Dead Animal Photography
Down to Sleep by Emma Kisiel Captures Deceased Wildlife
When it comes to death, people are compelled to avert their eyes, especially when it involves wild animals—it is simply the way of life; yet Down to Sleep by Emma Kisiel, a photographer born... MORE
Gruesomely Realistic Illustrations
Gruesomely Realistic Illustrations
Naoki Sasayama's Brutal Art is Both Grotesque and Awe-Inspiring
It’s not often that you find something that is both revolting and captivating at the same time, but the brutal art from Naoki Sasayama certainly fits the bill. Depictions of unbelievably... MORE
Whimsical Nightmare Illustrations
Whimsical Nightmare Illustrations
Daniel Zender Illustrates Your Subconscious
Daniel Zender’s ‘Light Terrors’ series focuses on the dark side of our subconscious. We’ve all been there: you wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, gasping... MORE
Emotive Reincarnation Illustrations
Emotive Reincarnation Illustrations
Alessia Iannetti Painted an Incredible Transformation
This beautiful painting by Alessia Iannetti appears to illustrate some form of transformation from human to creature. The way that the girl is painted in monochrome and the birds are in color... MORE
Glorified Roadkill Captures
Glorified Roadkill Captures
The 'At Rest' Series Features Animals Memorialized Where They Lay
A collection of photos entitled ‘At Rest’ by photographer Emma Kisiel depicts roadkill being given a memorial. Without touching the animal carcasses left beside highways, Kisiel created... MORE

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